What a busy 2018 but I still tried my best to get out there and explore new hiking trails all over the Northeast and even in Missouri. The weather wasn't cooperative this year either. Every time I planned a hike, I felt like it down poured and I had to bail on it. And the weekend it didn't rain, I had prior commitments! I digress. I was still able to cross off some great hikes off my list. And for 2019, I have some big plans in the works. My goal is to hike over 100 miles. With that said, here are my favorites hikes of 2018.
Lake Minnewaska (Kerhonkson, NY)
Minnewaska State Park Reserve is a definitely a gem in the the upstate NY area. There are so many ways to enjoy this park. And, there are numerous hiking trails of all difficulties that offer amazing views. My first trip here was outstanding. The hike consisted of a nice view of Awosting Falls, then up to see the views from the Kempton Ledge, and back down around Lake Minnewaska. The views were spectacular. This was about 5.5 miles. The trails are very well kept and marked. I was very impressed by what this park had to offer. For more details on this hike, check out my blog post on the hike here: https://hikingfordonuts.com/hikingfordonutsblog/lake-minnewaska.
Storm King Mountain (Cornwall, NY)
The one hike I had to complete to this year was Storm King Mountain. I saw all these amazing pictures on IG. And, this hike comes up on all my best hike searches in NY. Located in the Hudson Valley, this trail can be very busy. But it is worth it. The weather was foggy the day I hiked but the views were stunning nonetheless. The trail is only about 2.7 miles. This was not as difficult for me as I anticipated from what I read online. It's still very tough and does involve steep inclines/declines and some climbing. This was challenging but fun. That's a what a good hike involves to me. There are some good details to know before hiking that help. And you can get those details on my blog post on Storm King, https://hikingfordonuts.com/hikingfordonutsblog/storm-king-mountain-new-york.
Zealand Falls Hut to Zeacliffs (Bethelem, NH)
Of course, a hike in the White Mountains is on the list. The Zealand Trail takes you up to the Zealands Fall AMC Hut for about 2.8 miles. And then another 1.3 miles will lead to the Zeacliffs. At this viewpoint, there will be an amazing sweeping vista view of the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The hike was pretty intense and my most challenging hike of 2018. However, this may the best view I have seen in New Hampshire. For more details, check out my blog post here, https://hikingfordonuts.com/hikingfordonutsblog/zeal.
Rattlesnake Mountain (Farmington, CT)
Little did I know off of Route 10 in Farmington, CT, there was a dynamite hike with an awesome view of downtown Hartford. Part of the Metacomet Trail, this blue marked trail will lead you to a great view from Rattlesnake Mountain. From here you will see the East And West Peak At Hubbard Park in Meriden And the Pinnacle Rock In Plainville, as well as downtown Hartford. The hike is a 2.6 mile loop. If you want to hike more, the trail does connect to the Pinnacle Rock Trail for another 2.2 miles round trip added to the hike. In total, 4.8 miles. The view from Pinnacle rock is not as satisfying as Rattlesnake Mountain. However, there are some cool features along the Pinnacle Rock Trail. Check out my blog post for the info, https://hikingfordonuts.com/hikingfordonutsblog/rattlesnake-mountain-to-pinnacle-rock-via-metacomet-trail-farmington-ct.
Jessie Gerard Trail - People State Forest (Barkhamsted, CT)
After digging hard online for the best fall hike in CT, I came along the Jessie Gerard Trail in People State Forest. And, I am so glad I came across it because this is a must hike in CT in the fall. There isn't much online on this hike so I am glad I can shed some light. The park contains a lot of trails that continually intersect and honestly could be very confusing. The hike is 3.3 miles and I did hop on and off 6 different trails. You will need a map in order to stay on track. With that said, there are outlooks of this hike that are like no other in CT. And, there is a waterfall potential if it has rained. I have no blog up currently on this but that will be coming soon! For now enjoy the pics!
Mina Sauk Falls (Ironton, MO)
Every where I travel, I like to find hiking trails. On my trip to St. Louis, I wanted to find a worthy hike to soothe my hiking itch. The Mina Sauks Falls Trail is about a 2 hour drive from St. Louis. Unfortunately, there was no rain or else there would have been the biggest waterfall (132 ft) in Missouri. However, this trail did offer other great features such as great views of the mountains and valleys. The trail head sits on the highest mountain peak in Missouri at 1,772 ft. Also, this trail intersects with the Ozark Trail. I couldn't pass that up. The hike was a 4.8 mile loop. Very rocky and strenuous, but a great find. Well, worth the drive. Here's a taste of some pictures. Blog coming soon.
HIKING FOR DONUTS
A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast
Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.
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